If your child engages in contact sports or other athletic activities, they could benefit from wearing an athletic mouth guard. According to the American Dental Association, more than 200,000 injuries to the mouth are prevented every year because of mouth guard protection. This simple appliance shields your child’s smile from injury by covering and cushioning the upper teeth and gums, and by preventing accidental harm to the jaws and lips as well.
Which sports can a mouth guard help?
The American Dental Association recommends mouth guards be worn during the following activities: Acrobats, basketball, boxing, field hockey, football, gymnastics, handball, ice hockey, lacrosse, martial arts, racquetball, roller hockey, rugby, shot putting skateboarding, skiing, skydiving, soccer, squash, surfing, wrestling, weightlifting, volleyball, and water polo.
What does a mouth guard do?
An athletic mouth guard protects against fracturing or breaking teeth, knocking out or displacing teeth, biting lips and cheeks and protecting against jaw fractures.
Reasons people don’t wear their mouth guard
- It feels uncomfortable
- It makes breathing uncomfortable
- It interferes with speech
- Peer pressure
- The sport doesn’t require it, even though trauma can occur
Reasons to wear a mouth guard:
- Protects the jaw joints against trauma/injury
- Prevents injury to your neck and jaw
- Protects the teeth against impact from force
- Protects the soft tissues in the mouth from injury/trauma
- Can protect against concussion
Where do we get a mouth guard?
Basic stock mouth guards can be found in most sporting goods stores, along with boil and bite mouth guards which mold the plastic to the teeth. Your most comfortable, best-fitting mouth guard comes custom made from your dentist’s office.
Please call [phone] at [practice_name], to learn more about our mouth guards and to schedule a consultation with Dr. Walter Romney, Dr. Briant Romney, or Dr. Clark Romney Salt Lake City, UT; Murray, UT; Rose Park, UT; and Rock Springs, WY. We are pleased to help your child receive the best protection for their active smile!